Concepts for Functional Restoration of Barrier Islands

摘要

This Coastal and Hydraulics Engineering Technical Note (CHETN) presents guidance for functional restoration of barrier islands. The concept of functional restoration is introduced here as an engineering and ecological design such that a barrier island can perform as a wave attenuator, storm surge buffer, and ocean boundary for an estuary, bay, and mainland over the defined project lifetime. Ecological design is required as part of the restoration to minimize initial nourishment losses and to ensure that environmental goals are met. Functional restoration allows for the possibility that a restored island could migrate alongshore and cross-shore, and possibly overwash to some extent as long as it continued reducing the risk of damage to the estuary, bay, and mainland. This CHETN reviews existing knowledge on the benefits of barrier islands and presents guidance for functional restoration.